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Kathmandu Day Trip: Budhanilkantha and Hike Through Shivapuri National Park

Gain insight into Nepal’s religions in a fun and active way on this small-group day trip from Kathmandu. Take local transport to Budhanilkantha, the holy site of the sleeping Hindu god Vishnu, and then enjoy a moderate hike with your guide through the woodlands of Shivapuri National Park to Nagi Gompa, a hilltop Buddhist monastery where panoramic views of the Kathmandu valley abound. Finish with a stop at a local bazaar in Sundarijal before heading back to Kathmandu.

Highlights

All-day hiking trip to Budhanilkantha and Shivapuri

Get off the beaten track to discover local sights in the Kathmandu Valley

Enjoy one moderate and one gentle mini-trek through Shivapuri National Park

Travel by local bus for a slice of everyday life in Nepal

What to Expect

Begin by hopping a local bus to Budhanilkantha, getting a slice of everyday Kathmandu life as you make your way up into the hills. You’ll get a rare peek at a Hindu temple usually only visited by locals. Light a butter lamp in honor of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Your guide will fill you in on the history of the venerated figure, shown here fast asleep.
From there, you’ll embark on a moderate hike through terraced farmlands as you head to Shivapuri, one of Nepal’s national parks. Climb up a gentle slope for panoramic views of the valley, which on clear days stretch to the Himalayan range. You'll visit the Buddhist monastery of Nagi, tucked deep into the woods, and haggle for handicrafts at a local market before heading back to the city.

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Important Information

Departure Point

Hotel Marshyangdi, Chaksibari Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

Departure Time

7:00 AM

Duration

6h

Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Inclusions

Local guide

Round-trip fare on local transport

Entry/Admission - Budhanilkantha

Entry/Admission - Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Exclusions

Gratuities

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Food and drinks

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Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

A large amount of walking is involved; comfortable walking/trail shoes are recommended

Please note that there has been significant damage to some of the sites visited on this tour due to the earthquakes in April and May 2015

Maximum group size is 12.

Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 4 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel within 3 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

We did this partly for the siteseeing and partly for pre-EBC exercise. Mission accomplished on both counts. Milan was a great guide and set a pace to suit all. Went to the Hidden Monastery but could not go in unfortunately. Good to get out of...More

My friends and I were shown this trek, being told it’s great preparation for our Everest base camp trek. We decided to do it, and we were NOT disappointed. For ~$60 USD, we got an awesome tour of a Hindu temple, an awesome 4WD adventure...More

My guide Milan Tamang met me at the Kathmandu Guest House and after a short drive we were walking through a beautiful forest on the edge of the Kathmandu valley. Milan had excellent English and was very helpful in answering all my questions. The views...More

We started at 7am with our guide, JANGBU SHERPA, from the Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel. Everything went so smoothly because our guide was so experienced and so kind. Never did i worry about a thing. And i had really fun day. I highly recommend...More

Date of experience: October 2017

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